1.3.2 Level Up

The words were indeed floating in front of his eyes. It was not just his imagination.

"What was the choice again?" He asked.

To his astonishment, whatever it was that he spoke in his mind gave him the answer—and the words did float in front of his eyes like some kind of virtual screen or a hologram.

A Level 3 [Fisherman],

Or,

A Level 1 [Hunter].

What is this, some kind of game? Was he inside a virtual reality?

But no, that was hard to believe. The smell of the mould in the cabin, the smell of the wet sand and the pain he felt in his forearm—everything had been so real. This certainly was not a virtual reality.

Humanity may have terraformed Mars, but they still did not have the technology to simulate such a realistic virtual reality.

"What Are you?"

This time, there was no answer.

"Okay then, how do I choose between the classes?"

You Must Verbally Choose The Class You Want.

Michael could think of only one explanation for his predicament. He was in another world that worked like a game.

"So all I have to say is ask the class I want and I will receive it?"

Was it really that easy?

That is correct.

Well, there was another explanation that nagged at him. Michael tried not to think about it. This could all be in his head.

"And what if I wish to refuse both classes?"

You Can Refuse The Classes Likewise.

If he was indeed in a game like world, did goblins exist here? Most games he played had goblins in them.

I don't even like books, especially the ones labelled as Isekai. I am just an ordinary thirteen-year-old with the greatest problem in the world: sibling rivalry.

Things like transporting to another world shouldn't happen to me. Not indeed. This is all just a twisted nightmare and I will wake up from it.

What about dragons? Were they real? If they were, Michael would probably want to meet such majestic creatures someday.

Ah, this place has broken me, hasn't it? Michael laughed in his heart. Thankfully, it wasn't out loud. That would imply he was indeed broken.

"I see. And what happens when I refuse the classes? Will there be any consequences to it?"

You Will Get Two More Chances To Choose The Class. As Long As You Meet The Classes Requirements. If You Refuse, In All Your Chances, You Will Remain A Mundane Human, At Least Without Outside Help.

System was actually giving him helpful answers. It was good to know that even if he refused the classes all three times, there were ways to receive one, nonetheless.

Michael still could not believe he was in another world dominated by classes, but he had to face the facts.

What about mages? Games always had mages. Magic. Now that was something Michael could get behind.

"Alright system, I dont know if all this is real or a hallucination. Hell, this could really be another world—I can't know for sure. I can but presume. But I will play this game, believe I am in another world until proven otherwise—lest I go mad."

No reply came. That was fine with him. He had spoken his mind.

He had other questions to ask anyway. If he took the class now, would he be able to take another class again like a [Wizard] or a [Mage]? Something that would allow him to use magic.

He asked the said question to the system or whatever it was that spoke in his mind. If he was, in fact, in another world, it could only be possible through magic. Or an advanced technology that was indistinguishable from magic.

If he did learn magic, he might someday figure out a way to return home. To his family.

All Sentient Beings Can Receive Up To Three Classes. The First Class They Receive Will Be Their Primary Class. The Second And Third Class They Receive Will Be The Secondary Classes.

All Secondary Classes Are Always Capped Twenty Levels Below Your Current Level Of Primary Classes, So If You Wish To Gain Secondary Classes You Must At Least Reach Level Twenty-one In Your Primary Class.

"That is good to know."

So even if he choose a class now, he would still have two more chances to gain a class that allowed him to use magic. It just wouldn't be as powerful.

Warning! You Have One More Minute to Choose Your Class. If You Fail to Do So, You Will Have Refused Your Class by Default.

If he was indeed in another world, he wanted to attain far better class than mere [Hunter] or worse [Fisherman].

But Michael knew greed killed men far more than anything else. Or at least he thought he had heard an idiom like that somewhere.

He was alone, and he did not know how to meet conditions for other classes. If he refused now, he might die because of it.

Having a class, any class, might give him an edge. No, not an edge. It might just be a basic requirement for his survival.

He knew which class to choose. There was no thinking about it. He did not want to spend his life as a [Fisherman] in another world. Besides, the class like [Hunter] could mean anything; a game hunter, bounty hunter, treasure hunter or who knew what?

Michael dramatically pointed his finger at one of the words.

"[Hunter], I choose you."

He knew using a Pokémon reference was just a tad much. But he had to relieve his mind from the absurdity of this whole situation somehow.

Pokémon was still a beloved franchise, even if it was an ancient anime.

Congratulations, You Have Been Bestowed With the New Class [Hunter].

[Hunter] Level 1.

Congratulations, You Have Gained a Passive Skill.

[Lesser Reflex]

What does this mean? Will I be able to react to things faster? Does this have anything to do with my resolve to stop reacting and start making decisions?

Congratulations, You Have Gained An Active Skill.

[Life Detection]

Congratulations, You Have Gained A Hidden Skill Unique To You.

[Mark of Twain]

Michael blinked in surprise. That could not be a coincidence. Indeed, his full name was Michael Twain.

The hidden skills came with description. The system didn't speak, the words simply hovered before him.

[You have been marked by the twin gods, Gemini, and they expect you to do great things. Their attention comes with both Grace and Bane.]

[Grace:

*You can obtain two primary classes.

*This is skill will be hidden from any form of appraisals.

*Once you have gained both your primary classes, you can/must hide one of your class from any form of appraisal. Once you have chosen which class to hide, you cannot change your choice and it will forever stay hidden from appraisals.]

[Bane:

*Your soul is too weak to handle two primary classes without any consequences. As weak as your soul is, you will be limited to your primary classes alone and not receive any secondary classes.

*You must raise both your classes to its maximum level to advance your class to the next stage.]

The fog and the surrounding whiteness vanished. World returned to normal.